KIRSTY Elwood couldn't bring herself to look at any photographs of her, as she knew she was overweight.

But it wasn't until a trip on a helicopter that the 32-year-old faced up to the fact that she had to do something about it.

And now after her successful weight loss, she is hoping to inspire other people to shift those extra pounds.

Before she could go up in the helicopter, Kirsty and the other passengers had to be weighed and when it came to her time on the scales the pilot's expression said it all for her.

She said: "I think my weight started to escalate when I worked in an office and it was always someone's birthday when cakes and doughnuts were brought in to celebrate.

"Then it was all those nights out with the girls. We were the best customers of the Italian restaurant."

When she was weighed at her first Weight Watchers class, Kirsty tipped the scales at 18st 6lb, which she found devastating to hear.

So Kirsty got stuck into the plan to help her lose the weight and she was determined to shed pounds in time to be a bridesmaid for her friend's wedding.

She had already managed to lose more than three stones for the wedding but carried on to shed another four and a half stones to achieve her target weight.

"Getting a goal, being a size 12, being proud of a photograph are all too precious achievements to throw away and I want others to feel the same way."

So now Kirsty has set up her own Weight Watchers meeting, which takes place every Monday night at 7pm at The Kings Club in Latchford.

For more information on the group, or for any other in Warrington, visit weightwatchers.co.uk or call 08457 123 000.